z CITY HALL Three Attempts: One Touchdown s : By ELGIN RUDDELL EES EE matters of more than average concern came before the city fathers this week. It would be only fitting to devote the entire column to each item. This may be possible when we get our sixteen pager like the editor is shooting for. The issues: in question dealt with low-rent housing, public power and trans- portation, and lay-offs. The score was two-one, but not tothe eredit of the “Hungry “Thirties,” Tory-led city council. On low-rent housing the council is jittery. Even Cornett and Buscombe realize that support for this form of housing is wide- spread and real. It rests on the firm base of the need in this community as revealed in the 1941 census that 36 percent of the population paid under $20.00 per month rent. Nevertheless these two worthies attempted to block endorsa- tion of the Winnipeg city council proposal. The proposal calls for the federal government to amend the National Housing Act so that municipalities can have federal finance for low-rent housing: projects, with the federal government subsidizing the project to | cover losses, if any. | : When this proposal was received by Council, it was referred for advice to the Postwar Housing Committee. This committee is chaired by Alderman Buscombe and im spite of Buscombe’s attempt to drag in his favorite red herming, a charter amendment, the committee recommended endorsation. Next step was for this recommendation to come beforé the city building committee, also chaired by Buscombe. The clerk could barely finish reading the report of the Postwar Housing Committee before Buscombe launched a tirade of abuse on the whole proposal. While this was going on a delegation headed by John Mc- Peake and the Rev. Cooke arrived to support the recommendation. At this point Buscombe, in amateur rugby style, fumbled the ball and His Worship Mayor Cornett attempted a recovery by trotting out a resolution on low-rent housing passed at the conference of mayors. This was to be another red herring to turn the discussion away from low-rent housing and get it all tangled up in debating methods of administration. This manoeuvre failed because the mayor’s resolution also favoured low-rent housing. The only dif- ference was in expecting the initiative to come from the federal government. Just about this time Alderman Bennett tried for a tackle by suggesting that since the Winnipeg resolution protected the city financially that he could see no Harm in supporting it. Finally, McPeake got into the serimmage by pointing out that both the Winnipeg resolution and the resolution from the confer- ence of mayors Support low-rent housing. Here Mayor GCornett realized that he had got himself all mixed up and was running the wrong way. He had nearly reached the touchdown for low-rent housing. : Alderman Price tried for a tackle by pointing out that most of the council appeared to favor the principle of low-rent housing (obviously they didn’t). Here the ball got out of bounds and the game has been postponed for two weeks while the “anti-low-rent housers” consult Winnipes as to why they passed the resolution in the first place. They will be resumed at the next sitting of the building committee, Noyember 6. John McPealce assures me that the “low-rent housers” will be all warmed up and it’s hoped that the friendly fans will turn out in good strength. i Let Hart Do It ‘ ON THE question of electric power and transportation the mayor still seems to be appalled at the thought of tackling this matten. It appears that he doesn’t mind bowing publicly to the demand for community ownership of the B.C. Electric monopoly but when it comes to getting down to business he favors the motto “Let Hart Do It.” In comparison it is interesting to compare the attitude of New Westminster and Victoria. In New Westminster, Acting-Mayor Courtney has announced that that city is quite competent and ready to own, manage and operate their own transportation. In this city, too, they already handle the distribution of electric power. They buy the juice from the BCER at a flat rate and sell it to all consumers in their area. Last year they made a net profit to the city of $400,000. In Victoria, Mayor McGavin makes no bones about describing the BCER equipment there as junk and that they are prepared to run their own transportation. Vancouver citizens know very well how to describe the transportation here without any further sug- gestions. These are things to remember on polling day, Wednes- day, December 13. : The bright spot this week is the announcement from Alderman Jack Price that he has the go ahead sign on a city wide job conference. This should receive support from all sections of the community. but all have been either mainly labor or management. This city- sponsored conference will make possible for the first time on a In order to make the, conference a success some good hard constructive thinking is needed to bring forward proposals that are realistic and practical. ‘Hard Cash Needed REGULAR readers of this column I am sure are aware that John McPeake intends to be a candidate for alderman in the civic election. This column is fully in support of his decision and will pl for. support for him. T am sure too that there are many of vod. would like to assist in this endeavor. One way to help is by finan- cial contributions. Hard cash is needed. : Send money in eare of this column. It will and turned over to McPeake’s SSaoA Ge will be acknowledged Fairview Community Committee Action On Playground Problem Formation of a representative community organization in Fairview to conti work of the Fairview Playgrounds and Recreational Committee as well as other munity activities was discussed at a meeting in Heather Hall this week and an initia committee set up. Represented at the meeting were a number of district Parent-Tez ers Associations, Pro-Rec, Mount Pleasant Lions’ Club, LPP Fairview Club, as well a number of interested individuals. The committee decided to call a meeting of all commun- ity groups in the Fairview dis- trict for November 13 at 8 p.m., in the Heather Hall. Activities of the Playgrounds Committee have agreement of City Council to refer the question to its School and Park Sites Committee, which Financial Campaign Will there be jobs in post- war Canada? The test of real progressives is how they answer that question It is not good enough to answer, “There willbe crises and un- employment unless you elect ‘my party’ ”. This is no time for partisan chest beating: and boastful declarations that any one party alone can meet the problem. For no one party will elect suffici- ent members to form the next government of Canada. The Canadian people must be quickened to the realiza- tion that in view of the divi- sions which actually exist it is a question of deciding not which party shall form the next government, but what kind of coalition shall take power in Canada. A right coalition depend- ent on the Tories for support will indeed restore the hick- ory stick days of honest thrift, soul-cleansing pover- ty, unemployment and crisis so dear to the heart of Ar- thur Meighen and his politi- eal descendants. A demo- cratic coalition dependent on labor for support will give labor for the first time a de- cisive voice in the fovern- ment of the nation and pro- vides the only guarantee of jobs and social security. One party alone has placed the issue squarely. That party is the Labor-Progres- Sive Party. What other party in this critical hour gives a clear lead to the Ca- nadian people, fighting for public recognition of the fact that the issue is not what party but what com- bination of parties and groups Can guarantee jobs. and security? In the face of slander spread by ele- ments who make a mockery of the word “cooperative,” our party has not faltered. We have not retreated one step. In recent years the politi- cally advanced people in Bri- tish Columbia haye in- creased greatly in numbers and influence. This is an appeal to all such people tQ join in the fight and make 4 pledge to Canada’s future: “I shall give as much in energy and financial support as time and my means will permit. I shall make a list of my friends and contacts and go to them for support. TI shall talk to them about the real issues and help them to see that democratic coalition is the immediate road to jobs and security. I shall take. my place in the battle for Canada’s future.” resulted in — meets on Monday, October 30. Favorable action is expected from this committee on the re- quests contained in a brief pre- sented earlier to the City Coun- cil Building, Civie Planning and Parks Committee. The brief outlined the urgent need in the False Creek area, north of Broadway and between Oal: and Main Streets, for the establishment of parks and playgrounds for the children in this highly congested district. George- Flags, chairman of the Fairview Committee, who headed the delegation, in his presentation stressed the im- portance of such facilities in preventing accidents, many of which have occurred in the dis-= trict in the past, and also as a means of providing healthy and safe recreation for the children. “At the present time,” he de- =a SSS ee A charge of 50 cents for each insertion of five lines or less with 10 cents for each additional line is made for notices appear- ing in this column. No notices will be accepted later than Wed- nesday midnight of the week of publication. - Branch Meetings Burrard East er : wee LPP Branch meets every second and fourth Wednesday each month, 8 p.m., at 1302 Hast 12th. Ca =